File or cabinet for newspapers



w R BROOKS FILE 0R CABINET FOR NEWSPAPERS, 856.

No. 423,982. Patented Main 25, 1890.

UNITED STATES,

PATENT OFFICE.

\VILLIAM R. BROOKS, OF MOBILE, ALABAMA.

FILE OR CABINET FOR NEWSPAPERS, 800.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 423,982, dated March 25, 1890.

Application filed February 13, 1889. Serial No. 299,746. (No model.)

To all whom it 12mg concern.-

Be it known that I, WILLIAM R. BROOKS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Mobile, in the county of- Mobile and State of Alabama, have invented new and usefullmprovements in Files or Cabinets for Newspapers, &c., of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to improvements in files or cabinets especially adapted and designed for newspapers; and it has for its object to provide a device of this character by means of which the weight of the file of newspapers will serve,when combined with springs, to hold the leaves of the cabinet in place without the use of looks or catches of any kind, said springs enabling the leaves to be automatically closed after they have been drawn out; and the invention consists in a certain novel construction and combination of devices, fully described hereinafter in connection with the accompanying drawings, and specifically pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1' is a perspective view of a file or cabinet embodying my improvements. Fig. 2 is a vertical central sectional view thereof. Fig. 3 is a perspective View showing the file or cabinet open and indicating the manner of securing anewspaperfile therein. Fig.4 is a vertical section similar to Fig. 2, but showing the cabinet open.

Referring by letter to the drawings, A designates the casing, which consists of the back a, the sides a a, attached at their rear edges to the back, the bottom a secured to the lower ends of the back and sides, and the front B, which is pivoted at its lower edge between the lower ends of the sides and is connected to the back by the coiled springs O O.

Inclined blocks D D are secured to the bottom piece of the cabinet and arranged in contact with the inner faces of the sides, near their lower ends, and to these blocks are pivoted the swinging leaves E E, of any desired number, each leaf projecting slightly above the upper edge of the leaf immediately in front thereof, so as to furnish space to display the name or description of the contents of each compartment. These leaves and also the front when in their normal positions, as shown in- Figs. 1 and 2, are inclined backward slightly toward their upper ends, so that they will retain their positions without assistance. The leaves are provided at intermediate points at their upper ends with the projections or pins G G, to hold their upper ends at a suitable distance apart to prevent them from. pressing directly against each other, and thus provide against friction between the leaves and the contents of the cabinet. The front sides of the leaves may beprovided wit-l1 any suitable clasps or clips or pockets to engage the articles. Fig. 3 shows one of the leaves provided near its side edge with keepers H H, in which are engaged the ends of the newspaper-file 1, whereby the said file isheld in the proper position.

The device is simple, easily operated, and may be cheaply manufactured. The edges of the leaves are attached to intermediate points of the springs by any suitable means. For instance, holes may be bored through the side edges of the leaves and the springs strung through the holes, or the springs may be stapled at intermediate points to the leaves.

It will be observed upon reference to Figs. 2 and 4: of the drawings that in my cabinet the space for puttingin a paper is ample-say seven to ten inches wide at the top and running down to one inch or less at the bottom. It is practically funnel-shaped. As is well known, newspapers on files will bulge out at the bottom, and they must be compressed to get them into a small slot.

In my cabinet the papers are first inserted into a wide space and are gradually compressed as they get into their proper place.

In my cabinet I use no catches to hold it closed, but employ springs which automatically close the leaves .and the front, and also tend to hold the leaves in their closed position. This tendency is assisted by the backward inclination of the leaves when they are closed. (See Fig. 2.) Thus the backward inclination of the leaves beyond a perpendicular line, together with the weight of the file of newspapers on the leaves and the attachment of the springs, all combine to hold the leaves in their closed position without any catches or looking devices.

Another point of superiority for my cabinet resides in the fact that the newspapers are suspended and attached to the face or front sides of the leaves, and the devices used for such purposes are in plain view and easily manipulated.

The stops in my cabinet are placed near the tops of the leaves, so as to avoid any strain on the pivots and also prevent any tendency on the part. of the leaves bending inward at the top.

In opening my cabinet the leaves are not turned outward more than twenty-two degrees, and are stopped from going any farther, thus doing away with the necessity of supports of any kind except the springs.

Having thus described my invention, I claim- 1. In a newspaper-cabinet, the casing having a series of leaves pivoted within the same and inclined rearward toward their upper free ends, and coiled springs connected to each of the leaves to return them automatically to their normal positions, substantially as specified.

2. In a newspaper-cabinet, the casing having a series of leaves pivoted within the same and having the newspaper-files attached to the front sides thereof, and provided with projecting stop-pins Jr at their upper ends and inclined rearward toward their upper free ends, and coiled springs connected to each of the leaves to return them automatically to their normal positions, substantially as specified.

3. In a newspaper-cabinet, the casing A, consisting of the back a, the sides a, the bottom (1 beveled blocks D, arranged on the bottom, the series of leaves E, pivoted at their lower ends to the blocks and having the newspaper-files connected thereto, each leaf projecting slightly above the upper edge of the leaf immediately in front thereof and all of the leaves inclining rearward or backward toward their upper ends, the stop-pins G, attached to each leaf at the top, the front B, pivoted at its lower end between the sides CL, and the coiled springs G, which are attached to each of the leaves and also to the pivoted front, substantially as specified.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto afiixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM R. BROOKS. \Vitnesses:

A. POPE ST. J OHN, 'l. G. BUsH. 

